Perishables platforms becoming more climate- and customer-focused
The direct connection takes 3.5 days and generates 75% less CO2 emissions than road freight.
Direct lines from Morocco and Western Africa to Port-Vendres
The new facility will provide value-added services including re-packing, specialty packing, and labelling.
The Dutch logistics operator based in the strategic location of Maasdijk (Westland) runs four different distribution centres. It specialises in sub-tropical fruit, operating 30 ripening rooms with a 600-pallet ripening capacity. “We ripen about 275,000 pallets of avocados annually,” said Barry Mulder, managing director. Peru and Chile are the top sources, with avocado shipments arriving mainly between April and June. Kenya and South Africa are the other major origins during the rest of the year. “Our main customers are growers from overseas as well as retailers from across Europe,” said Mulder.
DB Schenker focused on reefer logistics
The leading German logistics group DB Schenker has invested heavily over the last two years in perishables logistics, with Asia and the Middle East its main destinations. “We have 120 people dedicated to reefer logistics located in our own country offices,” said Morten Klose, head of reefer in Europe. DB Schenker’s reefer activity grew by over 30% in 2022 compared to the previous year. The group is based in Europe, but has overseas distribution centres in the Middle East (Dubai), Africa, the US (Miami), and the Asia-Pacific region (Singapore). On October 15, DB Schenker opened its third DLC in Dubai, a fully renewable-powered mega hub with solar panels. The group opened DLC 1 in 2016 and DLC 2 in 2019.
KLP21 – the new 80,000m2 storage centre for food
Shortly after starting operations in October, the Kezad Logistics Park 21 (KLP21) received the official delegation of the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) conference, which was celebrated in Abu Dhabi and hosted by AD Ports Group. The centre has a total area of 80,000 sqm divided into four unit sizes of 20,000 sqm. It has a total storage capacity of 100,000 pallets, 60,000 of which are managed by a VNA mobile racking system. It is designed for foods, beverages and healthcare products, providing multi-chamber storage for frozen, chilled and ambient temperatures. The facility offers 3PL and 4PL services backed by the fleet of AD Logistics and its cross-border road services.
Saint-Charles operators reduce transport emissions by 75%
Operated by CMA-CGM, the direct shipping line between the Port of Agadir and Port-Vendres restarted on November 14 as an initiative led by the Saint-Charles operators. “It is a joint decision following a joint working group set up during summer 2022 by the trading and logistics operators of Saint-Charles International, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pyrenees-Orientales province, which is the administrator of Port-Vendres commercial port, together with CLTM the port operator of Port-Vendres,” said Cyril Gornes, CEO of Saint-Charles International. The direct connection takes 3.5 days and generates 75% less CO2 emissions than road transport. “Considering the significant volumes imported from Agadir, our operators hope this line will operate permanently and soon double its weekly service,” he said. The first two-way trip, to be operated until May 2023, may see more than 60,000 tons of fresh F&V shipped by sea.
